Paint and brush saver



Feb. 20, 1951 F. VOGEL PAINT AND BRUSH SAVER Filed March 29, 1949 INVENTOR FRED VUGEL Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination carriers, and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable appliance, of extreme simplicity and very small cost of manufacture, for itself being suspended from a suitable support, and for then suspending a can, pail or the like container of liquid paint and at the same time suspending a paint brush in a way to facilitate easy grasping of the handle of the brush for removal of the latter from its suspension support, as at intervals during a more or less continuously conducted painting job, yet with this suspension of the brush such that over a period of time during which no painting is being done the brush bristles may not engage the can or the paint therein.

A particular feature of the invention is that the arrangement is such that during suspension of the brush from the carrier and also while the carrier is in suspending grip relative to the can there is not only a preparation for the saving 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-90) of future time, such as is ordinarily required to soften and, straighten out brush bristles which have become tangled and distorted and locked together by a content of paint which has wholly or even partially hardened, but otherwise a prolonging of the life of the brush, as well as a saving of paint. In the case of the brush, such eminently fitting means are present for its proper placement while idle, that there is no tendency,

even by the careless householder or handyman, to yield to the usual temptation, which is, between jobs, to store the brush by laying it across the top of the can, to permit paint to dri down on the outside of the can, or, in the more usual case perhaps, to allow the brush to stand in the can with the bristles immersed in the paint and the end portions of the bristles crowded free-ends-on down into the bottom of the can.

A further feature of the invention is the inclusion of a one-piece member, easily constructed of a medium gauge sheet metal, which is so shaped and formed that it is a triply-functioning one in that it presents a wiper blade for partially overlying the collection of paint in the can, and also a drain plane for paint drops from the suspended brush and for discharging these drops into the can, and also 2. directly acting threepoint type of gripper for the upper end of the can at its interior.

Another feature of the new device resides in the fact that included therein is a member for carrying the said triply-functioning member and for having transmitted thereto from said triplyfunctioning member the weight of the suspended can and its paint content, this transmitted-load sustaining member being below called the main member and being such that it may be present as a squarely cut off length of a standard metal strip which at its upper end is curled to provide a hook for suspending said main member from a suitable support such as a rung of a ladder.

Still another feature of the invention is that the holder for suspending the brush may be a substantially squarely cut off length of a standard strip of spring metal; while a further feature is that merely two small auxiliary couplings are included in the new device, one for securing the said triply-functioning member to said main member and the other for securing the said holder to said main membereach of which couplings may comprise a single standard nut and bolt or screw pair; and still a further feature is that one of said couplings is utilizable, by virtue of the nature of the brush holder, fo modifying the resiliently maintained condition thereof, whereby, with said holder having a pair of brushhandle-engaging jaws, the resilient maintenance of the spacing of said jaws may be varied substantially instantaneously by tightening or loosening the last-named coupling.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing a now favored embodiment of the new painters companion, the same being shown as suspendingly carrying an opened can of paint, such can being broken away at a point between its top and its bottom.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, with a portion of the spring-jawsincluding brush holder shown partially in bottom plan.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and showing, partially in side elevation, the aforesaid triply-functioning member; a portion of the can being in this view indicated in dot and dash lines.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the main member of the new appliance as therein illustratively shown is marked Ill; said member being uniplanarly extended from end to end except for the portion near its top which is curled to present a hook ll having a downturned bill.

The brush holder [2 is formed to include terminally a pair of like but reversely facing jaws [3, these jaws integral with like but reversely arranged springing loops l4 joined integrally by the central portion of the length of the strip whereof the holder is made. As will be noted, the holder 12 is so shaped that the said central portion, this designated I5, is arched with its concavity facing the front side of the main member I0. With the holder of a resilient material, the said central portion [5 thereof constitutes a substantially arcuate leaf spring element.

An ordinary screw [6 is provided for attaching the holder l2 to the main member l0, said member IE3 bein apertured at a suitable point along its length and the center of the leaf spring element l5 being likewise ,apertured, these apertures for taking the shank of said screw forwardly of the latters head, and a nut I i being carried by said screw. These parts l6 and H constitute one of the two already mentioned triflingly inexpensive couplings included in the device. As will now be clear, by variously tightening and loosening the nut ll the jaws I3 may be set to exactly the ideal spacing and for the ideal action in regard to any one of a number of paint brushes each of a different diameter at its ordinarily present region of maximum rotundity or lateral swell intermediate the ends of its handle.

The holder i2 is desirably placed at a point along the height of the main member ID such that when the already mentioned triply-functioning member, this the complementary principal component of the new device next to be described, is suspending a paint can, the bottom or free ends of the brush bristles will be so high as not to touch or at least bear down perceptibly on the said triply-functioning member.

This triply-functioning member, as a whole designated I8, may be a Simple metal stamping. Said member comprises a main triangular sheet portion l9 shaped so as to have at opposite ends of its base line upturned end fingers 20, and being straight along said base line to present a wiper edge 2! for the paint brush bristles. Thus, as already stated, one function of this member i3 is to act as a wiper blade. To obtain a three point suspension of the paint can, said member l8 also carries a third claw 22, this for coaction with the two fingers or claws 20 in engaging the interior of such a paint can as is shown at 23, in the manner illustrated in Fig. l; and with the parts arranged as there illustrated, the member I 8 also presents at its sheet portion I9 the drain plane aforesaid for paint drops. The claw 22, together with a C-rolled formation 24 and a dependent web 25 for positioning the claw 22, are all integral with the sheet portion H] of the member I8 and so integral with the latter.

An ordinary screw 26 is provided for attaching the triply-fuunctionin member I 8 to the main member It, said member It being provided with an aperture at a suitable point along its length r and the web 25 of the member l8 being matchingly apertured, these apertures for taking the shank of said screw rearwardly of the latters head, and a wing nut 27 being carried by said screw. The screw 26 and nut 2i constitute the other one of the two already mentioned triflingly inexpensive couplings. Note that the head of the screw 26 is pocketed, to preclude accidental disengagement of said screw.

The shank of the screw 26 near the head thereof is shown as having a portion 28 of square cross-section, for keying relation to the aperture through the web 25, which aperture is of corresponding outline, this to make it easy to tighten or loosen the wing nut 21. As also shown, said shank portion 28 may be long enough to go also through the aperture in the main member ID for taking the screw 26; and then, with the lastnamed aperture also of square outline, the triplyfunctioning member l8 may be locked against swing about the axis of the screw 26 at a point along such axis within the main member I 0. But there is no real need for such looking, as the weight of the can and any paint therein will operate pendulum fashion always to hold the wiper edge 2| of the member [8 horizontal with the main member [0 assuming by gravity a vertical dependency from its book II; which hook may also serve as a hand-grasp part of the device in carrying it to a location for work, as to a selected rung ofa ladder.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications com ing Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thu described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functioning structure also incorporating a Wiper edge overlying the can interior.

2. An appliance for the purpose described, comprisin a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspendin said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functiom'ng structure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder bein made of a single elongate strip of flexible material variously transversely shaped along its length.

3. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means'carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brush-holder, said triply-functioning structure incorporting a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drainsuriace portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by Way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functioning structure also incorporating a'wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexible ma terial variously transversely shaped along its length, said triply-iunctioning structure being a one-piece member.

4. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by Way of said fingers or ciaws, said triply-functioning structure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexibile material variously transversely shaped along its length, said triply-functioning structure being a one-piece member, the material of which said brush-holder is made being resilient and said brush-holder including a pair of opposed spaced brush-handlegrasping jaws, and there being means for detachably mounting, said brush-holder on said main member and also for adjustment of said brush-holder to resiliently reshape said strip thereby to change the spacing to which said jaws are resiliently biased.

d. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said trlply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functioning structure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexible material variously transversely shaped along its length, said triply-functioning structure being a one-piece member, the material of which said brush-ho1der is made being resilient and said brush-holder including a pair of opposed spaced brush-handle-grasping jaws, and there being means for detachably mounting said brush-holder on said main member and also for adjustment of said brush-holder to resilientlyreshape said strip thereby to change the spacing to which said jaws are resiliently biased, the last-named means comprising a coupling of the nut and screw or bolt type and a portion of the length of said strip between said jaws, said strip portion being resiliently biased to a longitudinal curvature.

6. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-iunctioning structure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexible material variously transversely shaped along its length, said triplyfunctioning structure being a one-piece member, the material of which said brush-holder is made being resilient and said brush-holder including a pair of opposed spaced brush-handle-grasping jaws, and there being means for detachably mounting said brush-holder on said main member and also for adjustment of said brush-holder to resiliently reshape said strip thereby to change the spacing to which said jaws are resiliently biased, the last-named means comprising a coupling of the nut and screw or bolt type and a portion of the length of said strip between said jaws, said strip portion being resiliently biased to a longitudinal curvature, said brush-holder further including a pair of springing-loop portions each integrally joining a different end of said curved strip portion with one of said jaws.

7. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitable support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioningstructure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functioning structure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexible material variously transversely shaped along its length, said triply-functioning structure being a one-piece member, the material of which said brush-holder is made being resilient and said brush-holder including a pair of opposed spaced brush-handle-grasping jaws, and there being means for detachably mounting said brush-holder on said main member and also for adjustment of said brush-holder to resiliently reshape said strip thereby to change the spacing to which said jaws are resiliently biased, the last-named means comprising a coupling of the nut and screw or bolt type and a portion of the length of said strip between said jaws, said strip portion being resiliently biased to a longitudinal curvature, said brush-holder further including a pair of springing-loop portions each integrally joining a difierent end of said curved strip portion with one of said jaws, there being a coupling for said main member and said triplyfunctioning structure also of the nut and screw or bolt type.

8. An appliance for the purpose described, comprising a generally elongate main member adapted to be hung vertically, means carried thereby for suspending said member from a suitg able support, a brush-holder carried by said main member, and a triply-functioning structure carried by said main member at a point below the point of connection therewith of said brushholder, said triply-functioning structure incorporating a plurality of spaced fingers or claws having upturned end portions for engaging the upper interior of a paint can at the underside of the rim formation on said can surrounding the top opening of the can, said triply-functioning structure further incorporating a drain-surface portion downwardly inclined toward the can interior with the can suspended by way of said fingers or claws, said triply-functioning tructure also incorporating a wiper edge overlying the can interior, said brush-holder being made of a single elongate strip of flexible material variously transversely shaped along its length, said triply-functioning structure being a one-piece member, the material of which said brush-holder is made being resilient 'and said brush-holder including a pair of opposed spaced brush-handle-grasping jaws, and there being means for detachably mounting said brushholder on said main member and also for adjustment of said brush-holder to resiliently reshape said strip thereby to change the spacing to which said jaws are resiliently biased, the lastnamed means comprising a coupling of the nut and screw or bolt type and a portion' of the length of said strip between said jaws, said strip portion being resiliently biased to a longitudinal curvature, said brush-holder further including a pair of springing-loop portions each integrally joining a different end of said curved strip portion with one of said jaws, there being a coupling for said main member and said triply-functioning structure also of the nut and screw or bolt type, said triply-function'ing structure having a formation thereon presenting one of said fingers or claws and also establishing a pocketing retainer for the head of an element of the last-named coupling when in addition to the nut said coupling includes a headed screw.

FRED VOGEL.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 810,640 Greener Jan. 23, 1906 1,024,841 Emery Apr. 30, 1912 1,527,980 Jones et al. Mar. 3, 1925 1,811,065 Strobel June 23, 1931 2,320,262 Campbell May 25, 1943 

